I get what you're saying but I would not stop free ranging, there's no reason for me to ever do that. Nor would I have to tear down to add on due to making it a 8x8 square if added on would just be a matter of cutting a walk thru are in outside wall and adding additional space, but yes I agree if you had a design that didn't allow for expansion as big as you can reasonably go is best. Thank for all the input and info
You would not stop free ranging if predators started taking one daily!? They will do that.
Actually, electrifying the perimeter of your property cuts down on ground predators and so does a 22 rifle, so I would be more likely to lose from Hawks than anything and since most of those stick to open hay fields around me to hunt and I have plenty of places for them to avoid air predators and early warning from my roos and guineas to be honest I would be out waiting and killing coyotes or Coons etc that come on my property due to other livestock too. So picking them off for very long would not happen as they're locked in at night when majority of predators around my place are out. And, honestly losing a few along the line is price you pay to free range. Not to sound cold, but it is a fact if you truly free range long enough you will lose some eventually. You can only do best you can and be pro active to prevent significant loss to predators. I would probably discontinue keeping a flock before I had them locked in constantly, but that's just me.
